- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Colorado Avalanche travel to Philadelphia on Monday seeking to extend their strong start against a Flyers club still finding its footing.
Colorado enters with a 5-2-1 record, having scored 36 goals while surrendering 27. Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen each pace the club with eight goals through eight contests. MacKinnon has collected six goals and 15 assists in 22 career meetings with Philadelphia, including three goals and six helpers over the last five matchups. Defenseman Cale Makar has contributed three goals and three assists across his last five games against the Flyers, while Martin Necas has registered 17 points in 20 career appearances versus Philadelphia.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to start for the Avalanche. He carries an 11-3-2 record with a 2.48 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 16 career games against the Flyers, and has won his last two starts with a .929 save percentage.
Philadelphia snapped its winless start Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Ottawa, improving to 1-6-3. The Flyers have scored a conference-low 14 goals while allowing 34, tied with Buffalo for the most in the East and tied for fourth-most in the NHL. Matvei Michkov leads Philadelphia with four goals and five points in 10 games. Dan Vladar is the probable starter, holding a 2-4 record with a 3.88 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in six career games against Colorado.
Philadelphia has dropped four of its last five against the Avalanche, though it won the most recent meeting 7-3 at Ball Arena on January 23. Colorado claimed a 3-2 victory in the last trip to Philadelphia on December 7, 2025. The game begins at 5 p.m. local time Monday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).